The department continues our engagement in community outreach!

On Saturday, October 24th, 65 campus groups and community partners gathered on OSU west campus to provide family-friendly tours and hands-on STEM activities for the Columbus community and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the WestFest Science and Sustainability Festival! People from around Columbus attended the event, a huge success! Molecular Genetics ran several “FUNdamentals of Genetics” activities, including Punnett square games, microscopy of pollen, zebrafish embryos and fly and worm larvae, virus biology, and a brand-new activity on biomolecular condensates. Many wonderful volunteers helped during the event: undergrads Sofia Avram, Mahir Mazumder, and Preston Lee, graduate students Clare Austin, Sydney Cassel, Rebecca Caylor, Yaxin Deng, Matt Janik, Xuyu Liu, Anna Lubertozzi, and Nels O'Connell, postdocs Rene Arvola, Xioahong Wen, and Tianxiao Yang, staff members Emily Kridel and Kirta Chopra, and faculty Sharon Amacher, Dave Bisaro, Anna Dobritsa, Shuai Huang, and Margot Williams. We appreciate them sharing their love of science with our broader community!

In addition, last spring, Molecular Genetics joined many OSU and Columbus area groups that participated in the COSI Big Science Celebration on Saturday, May 2nd. We provided hands-on activities for individuals and families at our “FUNdamentals of Genetics” booth, including microscopy of live samples (zebrafish embryos, fly and worm larvae, and plant pollen) and Punnett square activities. We thank undergraduates Chloe Krensky, Levi Holmes, Fatima Sillah, Chizuru Nguyen, Marni Knapp, Seamus Garry, and Mallaki Dishmon, graduate students Ian Santiago, Matt McPherson, Aviana Smith, Sam Darr, Caleb Gooden, Anuttama Pal, Lily Schumacher, Nels O’Connell, postdoc Xingli Li, staff Michelle Steiger and Emily Kridel, and faculty Sharon Amacher, Anna Dobritsa, and Ambro van Hoof.